The Victims of Jack the Ripper

by Neal Stubbings Shelden

The Victims of Jack the Ripper focuses on the five women murdered by the infamous London serial killer. The book explores their lives and not just their deaths, leading to a fuller understanding of them as individuals. The author is the first to have contacted the descendants of these women to learn information that previously was only known to their families. Neal Stubbings Shelden is known in the field of Ripperology as an expert on this topic, having produced several limited edition booklets that have long been sought after by collectors. This highly anticipated volume combines twenty one years of research into one book and includes his most recent findings along with more than forty pages of photographs.

Genres: True Crime, Biography, Crime, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1841

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack the Ripper. The Whitechapel Murderer. Leather Apron. All are monikers that were applied to the mysterious serial killer who frequented the streets and alleys of Whitechapel, East London, in the fall of 1888. Because he was never caught, he continues to terrify and tantalize. In consequence, more books and articles have been dedicated to the Ripper than any other serial killer in modern history.

"The Victims of Jack the Ripper" is a refreshing addition to any Ripperologists library. Instead of proposing a dubious new suspect or arguing ridiculous conspiracy theories, Neal Stubbings Sheldon investigates the histories of the five canonical victims. He discovered a previously unpublished photo of victim number two, Annie Chapman, and corresponded extensively with the descendants of Polly Nichols and Catharine Eddowes as well as Chapman. His research turned up interesting family stories as well as one bit of sad irony: when Catharine Eddowes' cousin was hanged for murder in 1866, she profited from the tragedy by selling a gallows ballad about the crime to the crowd in attendance. She probably never thought that her own notoriety would ever exceed her cousin's, but it did, only she was fated to be prey instead of predator.

The only Ripper victim who continues to be an enigma, even after Sheldon's thorough researches, is Mary Jane Kelly. Determining her real identity and antecedents remains the Holy Grail for serious students of the Ripper crimes, but if anyone has a shot at a future resolution of this feminine enigma, it's Sheldon.

[LibraryCin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. In this book, Shelden looks at the lives and families of the five canonical Jack the Ripper victims, instead of dwelling on their deaths. Shelden also contacted descendants of the victims and was able to find some photographs that are also presented in the book.

It was interesting in parts, but I also found it a bit confusing to keep track of all the names. Shelden gives tidbit of info after tidbit of info about the victims and their families, but so many of them had the same name which made it difficult to follow which person he was talking about for each bit of info.

As I read it, I was thinking that it might be easier to follow and more interesting if the book was presented as historical fiction. Focus on one victim at a time and make it more of a story than just dates and births and marriages and what they did for work. It would be longer and you could get to know the people better. I did enjoy the parts that didn't get so muddled and confused with all the names.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great idea, not only for Ripperologists, but also for genealogy buffs. The author thumbnails the lives, then traces the descendants and other relatives of the 5 "canonical" victims of Saucy Jack: Cathy Eddowes, Liz Stride, Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman and Mary Jane Kelly. It was the hardest 105 pages I've read in years. Ultimately the author gives us very little sense of who the victims were or who their descendants are today. It's VERY hard to keep track of all those names, especially since most of them are unattached to photos, but the effort is worth it overall. It must be said that the copyediting in this slender volume beggars description -- the punctuation in particular borders on the surreal.

[Meaghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the author's genealogical research is commendable, this book/pamphlet is very badly written. The grammar is lacking and the punctuation very bad -- there's an overuse of question marks and a paucity of commas. Normally I don't notice that sort of thing but this was so bad it bothered even me.

Recommended for hardcore Ripperologists only.